The Dentist hears from Amit Patel upon his election as new president of the Association of Dental Implantology.
Modern dental implantology is about much more than placing a dental implant in the right place within the mouth. Successful treatment requires careful patient assessment, case selection, planning, execution and long-term maintenance, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach from the professional team.
The importance of a multifaceted approach has been emphasised with the election of the ADI’s new president, Amit Patel. As a specialist periodontist, Amit has accrued decades of experience in dental implantology and related fields. He is an associate specialist in periodontics and honorary clinical lecturer at the University of Birmingham Dental School, teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates. Amit is also an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Dental Practice (UK), lectures extensively across the UK and abroad, and is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Keen to promote the relationship between dental implantology and periodontal management, Amit explains, “The ADI has always been a dental implant- focused society, originally established in 1987 by GDPs with an interest in the field. As we all know, the evolution of dental implantology, especially in the last decade or so, has highlighted the importance of a multi-faceted approach to treatment – there is much more to consider than simply the location and type of dental implant placed. Dental implants are not automatically a solution for life and a lot of work is required by both professional and patient to prolong the efficiency of treatment results initially achieved.
“Today, the need for careful soft tissue management is widely acknowledged by dental teams involved in the delivery and maintenance of dental implants. Peri-implantitis has been a growing issue across the global dental landscape, which is to be expected alongside the increasing number of dental implants being placed, as well as the longer timeframe many dental implants will have been in patients’ mouths. Being aware of the risk factors and planning to minimise or avoid periodontal complications is crucial for all clinicians offering dental implant treatment.”
Prevalence of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis is believed to be around 40 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, with significant risk factors likely to be smoking and splinted prostheses. This demonstrates the importance of minimising potential complications through clinical technique, materials and patient compliance.
By electing a specialist periodontist as president, the ADI and its members are promoting the need for a multi- disciplinary approach to dental implantology.
Amit continues, “It is an honour to become president of such a prestigious organisation. It is also amazing to see the association recognise the importance of periodontology within the dental implant remit by giving me an opportunity to help lead it.
“I hope to bring a new perspective and ensure that our already amazing educational resources are inclusive of periodontal support therapies as well as surgical techniques. The two fields are much more closely linked today than they have ever been, so reflecting this in everything that we do as an association leading the way is crucial. The availability of high-quality professional education has always been a strength of the ADI and we’re always looking to further improve it to meet the needs of our members. This is how the new membership benefit of access to a template on Kiroku came about – we appreciate the importance of good record keeping and this platform is great for helping our members to maintain quality documentation and protect themselves legally.”
Looking ahead, Amit is keen to further spread the word about the ADI and how it can support the dental implant community. In particular, the benefits afforded to dentists in the early stages of their careers should be noted. He continues, “We hope to welcome more clinicians who are looking to get involved with dental implants, as well as those who are experienced in the field. We offer two years of free membership to those in their first five years post qualification, giving them a fantastic opportunity to find out more and determine whether this is an area for them. Whether clinicians decide to only restore dental implants, or to place them too, an understanding of both the restorative and surgical aspects is essential.
“The ADI will also continue to work on ensuring accessibility for professionals in all areas of the country. Covid has taught us all that we can engage in different ways, so we’ll be making the most of both virtual and in-person events to help members learn and interact. There will also be increased collaboration with other organisations globally, which starts with the ADI Masterclass in November 2022 delivered in association with the Osteology Foundation. We aim to give members an even bigger pool of internationally renowned speakers.
“Ultimately, we want to be better and continue developing as an organisation. It is a privilege to take over the presidency role from Eimear O’Connell, who has successfully seen us through the many challenges of covid, while still growing and improving the association for our members. I hope to offer my own perspectives to do the same.”